What's New and Upcoming
The operating room is one of the most resource-intensive areas of the hospital, generating disproportionate amounts of waste and greenhouse gas emissions, much of it driven by single-use disposable supplies such as paper surgical gowns. Transitioning from disposable to reusable cloth surgical gowns represents a practical, evidence-based opportunity to reduce waste, lower carbon emissions, and achieve long-term cost savings without compromising patient safety or clinical performance.
We aim to support SSO members who are interested in making this transition in their own health care systems by providing clear, actionable guidance that addresses clinical, operational, financial, and cultural considerations; enabling surgical teams to align sustainability with safety, efficiency, and professional responsibility.
This toolkit serves as an introductory guide to the process of creating change in your own organization in a US context.
Vision
A future where health care providers are an effective force for combatting climate change for our patients and our planet.
Values
- Reduce waste in our personal lives and in our workplace.
- Be creative and collaborative problem solvers, building on the work of others.
- Advocate and educate to promote sustainable practices.
- View climate change activism as an urgent moral and ethical imperative.
Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change directly affect patients with cancer and their treatment—whether through greater exposure to carcinogens, delay of care due to climate events, or the cost of waste. The U.S. health sector accounts for 25% of global health sector emissions — the highest amount attributable to an individual country’s health sector.1 In an effort to improve environmental sustainability in surgical oncology, SSO has established a task force whose mission is to inspire and equip surgical oncologists to advance environmental sustainability in their work and daily lives.
Contact Us
Staff Contact – Nicholas Sautter, Assistant Director, Scientific Initiatives, nicholassautter@surgonc.org.